7.23.2018

Hello, Stitchers! Today is an exciting day because I get to share a beautiful new wintery fabric collection that was designed by my talented and sweet friend, Minki Kim! I hope you are following Minki on Instagram—her feed is full of amazing designs, gorgeous bouquets, and loads of sunny optimism!

Winter Tales features Minki's signature colors and cute illustrations: delightful foxes, penguins, and bunnies frolic together in the snow and they almost make me miss snowy weather—almost!

For my first project, I made a pouch using the zipper installation from my Bound-All-Around Pouch. I altered the shape of the bag to make it HST friendly.

The cream tree print is such a gorgeous low volume backdrop for this HST project pouch. I love the sweet, uplifting sentiments in the design! The deep blue snowflake triangles are such a happy pop of color.

And to wrap up this post (hah!), I made some sweet drawstring gift bags. I used the Weebrawbag pattern by Laura Zuckerkuss—I've seen these bags all over Instagram and could no longer resist! The pattern is easy to follow and I was able to stitch up both bags in an afternoon. These are the small size and I made the pockets a little shorter than the pattern directions suggest to show more of the pretty floral vines prints.

7.15.2018

Hello fellow scrap hoarders! I'm popping in to let you know that my brand new zipper pouch pattern is now in the shop! And because I know you're already planning your holiday sewing, all patterns are 20% off until August 1! No need for a code, prices are already marked down.The sale is over, thanks so much!

I know you can't bear to waste those little treasured bits of your favorite fabrics, so let's make some super scrappy zipper pouches with them! These quilted bags are perfect for gifts or swaps, carrying projects, or organizing your purse or suitcase. The pattern includes instructions to make 3 sizes and features a linen back, binding around the top, and a machine sewn zipper.

The Bound All Around Pouch pattern is recommended for intermediate stitchers. While the zipper is sewn by machine, the binding on the top and inside is finished by hand. Experience with zippers and quilting is helpful but not necessary.

3.19.2018

The Notions Pouch Sew Along has come to a close and I had such a fabulous time, which abruptly came to an end when I realized I had to choose a grand prize winner from all the amazing entries! How would I ever decide? Seriously, how to choose:

First is Kelly @pinkadotquilts with her gorgeous sugar sack notions pouch. The binding is wonderful, and the words just fit on the front, perfect!

And second is Julie @julesopotamus and her adorable Little Red Riding Hood pouch with that cute flower button and cherry zipper pull!

Congratulations to all of the weekly winners, and thank you to everyone who entered their pouches in the #notionspouchSAL! I loved every single pouch--truly there were so many outstanding pouches that it caused me actual distress to have to choose--and I'm so grateful for your support and for inviting me and my pattern into your sewing rooms over the last several weeks! I’m going to miss the sew along, but I'm excited to see what all of you will be stitching up next!

Grand Prize Winner!

The pouch that I’ve chosen as the winner is one that I couldn’t get it out of my head--the vintage camper pouch by Cindy @freida_fritz. My retro-loving heart is in love with this amazing pouch--and bonus sweet floral pouch! I think Cindy got a lot of our imaginations going with her creativity! Photos are from Cindy's Instagram.

3.07.2018

Wow, this sew along is flying by! We are already in the middle of Week 3 and you guys, I cannot stop making pouches! I've heard a lot of great feedback about how easy the zipper installation has gone for you, and I'm thrilled that so many of you are enjoying all of the hand stitching on these bags! I've caught up on some favorite shows and new shows (did I just age myself?) while hand sewing the zippers and bindings. What have you been streaming or listening to while you sew?

I've got a new pouch to show you this week, as well as the SAL winners for Week 1 and 2!

I revisited a fun technique for this pouch, using the Itty Bitty Primitive Pinwheel Ruler from Primitive Gatherings (you can find the pattern at Fat Quarter Shop, Etsy, and check your LQS too, that is where I found mine!). I made a mini quilt with this a while back and the scale is perfect for the medium sized pouch. The panel I made for this bag was 7 squares wide by 11 squares tall and I alternated blue and cream (or low volume blue) prints.

You can see the leftover remnants on my previous blog post—and spoiler alert: it's a fair amount of waste, so I do not recommend these pinwheels for your expensive or rare fabrics! I did have to hand stitch a seam back together a time or two as folding the bag stressed the seams a bit. I suggest using a short stitch length and handling the panel as little as possible. If you are braver than me a bit of FMQ would help as well.

I just had to add a little stamp from a piece of Kokka fabric I recently bought, even though it covered up a precious pinwheel or two.

What a cute pouch—isn't that Dresden plate to die for? So much fussy-cutting goodness! Deidra recently hosted the #tinydresdenparty sew along so check out that hashtag for a ton of gorgeous (and bitty) Dresden projects.

Polina used such beautiful prints and multicolored Kantha stitching on her red pouch. Check out #libertysocietykanthastitchalong for more projects with gorgeous Liberty fabrics and hand quilting. Polina's teal pouch from Week 1 was outstanding as well!

This floral print is so lovely, and how perfect is the binding print on this pouch?! I love the three dimensional flower embellishment, too. Sue did a beautiful job stitching up her bag!

Congratulations to all of our winners so far! If you'd like to join us, you can find the pattern here. Follow this week's hosts, Mary @sunnydaysupply and Kim @robotmomsews and post your pouch photos with the hashtags #notionspouchSAL and #retromamapattern to enter. And remember, there is still another week left for your chance to win the Grand Prize!

2.26.2018

Welcome to Week 2 of the Notions Pouch Sew Along! The first week was so fun and there were so many incredible pouches to see--I'm inspired by all of your creative patchwork and quilting, and how you are using those trims and buttons you've had stashed away! Prizes will be announced soon by @zeriano and @fabricmutt for the first week of entries! Read on for more notions pouch inspiration and new additions to the grand prize that will be awarded at the end of the sew along!

Riley Blake Designs generously sent several Mae Flowers prints from Lindsay Wilkes's new collection for me to play with. I've been dreaming about making a zipper pouch using sewing notions packaging as decoration and this week I've finally done it! Vintage buttons are a serious weakness of mine--I love old button cards so much that I decided to make my own!

The little price tag was inspired by my brilliant friends (who also happened to host the SAL last week)--Heidi's Five and Dime tag print, and Minki's sewing illustration style.

I broke out my trusty clear stamps for this project and now I want to stamp all the things! Be sure to use an ink pad designed for stamping on fabric and use an iron to heat set your work.

And now for the prizes! Riley Blake Designs sent some gorgeous rolie polies for our grand prize and I am swooning...

First is Berkshire Garden by Lila Tueller. I am obsessed with the pear prints, they are too, too gorgeous!

And the sweet, vintage-y Mae Flowers

If you'd like to join in the sew along it's not too late, there are still 3 weeks to go! You can find the pattern in my Etsy shop, discounted until the end of the SAL! Up this week:

Hi! My name is Kim Kruzich and I'm a sewing pattern designer, author, and mom to two sweet boys. On my blog you'll find lots of sewing inspiration, free patterns and tutorials, and updates for my shop and work.

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